Accession No
2496
Brief Description
calculating machine by Rema, c.1920
Origin
Maker
Rema
Class
calculating
Earliest Date
1920
Latest Date
1920
Inscription Date
Material
metal (metal alloy, brass); wood
Dimensions
case length 282mm; breadth 151mm; height 125mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Donated by A.M. Binnie, 12/1979 Purchased secondhand by A.M. Binnie, c.1930
Inscription
‘A.M. BINNIE’ (machine)
‘Rema Patent’ (machine)
‘Rema’ (cover)
Description Notes
Calculating machine. Black-painted metal alloy. Mounted on wooden base with brass fittings and carrying handle. Wooden cover. Locking key.
Condition
References
Events
Description
Calculating machine
A calculating machine could be any machine that adds, subtracts, multiplies or divides. Before about 1820, they were solely produced as marvels and were not sufficiently developed to be of practical use. Direct multiplication was only possible in 1895, and had immediate time-saving application, particularly in the work of insurers and astronomers.
Numbers were represented digitally, with various different methods of entry. Earlier examples usually used rotating wheels with pins protruding. The pins were linked to a weight which fell and registered the number. Later examples were key driven.
18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson on 18/10/2002
FM:43328
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